Farmers: JPEPA is anti-Filipino
SunStar Dumaguete | Sunday, October 14, 2007
Farmers: JPEPA is anti-Filipino
By Edmund B. Sestoso
THE continuing debate on the merits and demerits of the controversial Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) has now lead farmer’s group to conclude that such is “anti-Filipino and runs counter to the provisions of the Constitution.”
In the series of consultations made by the Philippine Peasant Institute (PPI) with the farmers, Eugene Quiorante, a liaison officer for Negros Oriental, said most of them believe that it is anti-Filipino, anti-farmer, and contrary to the Constitution.
PPI has recently linked with Magkaisa JUNK JPEPA Coalition.
Quirante said the Philippine negotiators to the one-sided agreement have practically discarded the government research group’s macro-economic study on the controversial JPEPA.
“For such a comprehensive agreement, why did our negotiators abandon our own study on the general effect of the JPEPA on Philippine economy?” ask Quirante.
Quirante said the secrecy, lack of public disclosure, and exclusion of stakeholders in the processes leading to the adoption of JPEPA violate the people’s right to participate in matters of public interest.
It was also pointed out by Quirante that JPEPA practically grants national treatment to Japanese investors and yet the Philippine negotiators made very little exceptions to that commitment, thus constitutional protection were simply omitted.
The rule against ownership of private land by foreigners is only made to apply to the manufacturing sector when in fact, said Quirante, constitutional rule applies to all sectors.
Worse, Quirante further explained that under the JPEPA, toxic, hazardous, and nuclear wastes are included in the Philippines’ list of tradable goods.
The peasant leader said the scheme is a clear violation of national laws and the Basel Convention.
Under the JPEPA, the National Government waived its rights to demand from the Japanese investors the obligation to transfer their technology to assist their Filipino partners.
Quirante also refuted the National Government’s claim that this is the first time that Japan will open up its market to foreign workers, other than nurses and caregivers.
He said as early as 1950, Japan already had the law allowing for the entry of foreign workers.
JPEPA will not fundamentally change what already exists in the current laws of Japan.
Quirante also pointed out that in terms of trading of goods, JPEPA is clearly lopsided in favor of Japanese agricultural and industrial products.
The Philippines will drastically eliminate tariffs on agricultural products except for rice (5 tariff lines) and salt.
On the other hand, Japan was able to exclude 238 tariff lines, which include a wide range of fish and marine products, vegetables, fruits, seaweed, and footwear.
